Tall tales from a dubious role model
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Howard Marks has produced an implausible and glamorised account of the sordid world of drug-dealing and smuggling. By attempting to present this disgusting trade as humorous, he encourages gullible young people to admire those who engage in it. He portrays himself as an idealist distributing 'beneficial herbs'. It is more likely, in reality, that he exploited the weaknesses of others from selfish mercenary motives. An unrealistic and potentially harmful book.
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El Fantastico!!!
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I recently stumbled upon this autobiography and was immediately drawn to it having previously heard of Howard Marks' exploits from friends and i must say what a fantastic read.
The story basically follows Marks' involvement with hashish and weed and his eventual involvement with global smuggling through the 70's and 80's. The authors ability to depict the wonderful characters that he meets and deals with, included my personal favourite, ex-IRA Jim McCann, means that I found this book impossible to put down. Whilst this book obviously is attractive to the liberal minded amongst us, this book can be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone as Marks' comes across as a thoroughly likeable oxford "chap" who simply lives out a glamarous life that many of us would certainly follow if had the chance. At no point do you genuinely feel that Marks is a mastermind criminal and all i can say is good on you son for pulling one over on the power that be. Fantastic!
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Love it!
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He's a devil but i don't know after reading his real story, i like his humanity!
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Extraordinary, controversial character.
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From the start this book grabs your attention.Howard Marks tells a fascinating tale about his life starting from when he went to university in oxford to becoming an international dope smuggler.
He comes across as a nice friendly human being, so you don't put him in the same category as an evil crack peddler for example.His intelligence and memory for detail is outstanding but not boring.You have to have a good memory yourself for names and places to keep up with whats going on and hang on to the fast moving narrative.Highly recommended...weather you smoke or not.
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Highly Entertaining
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This highly entertaining and often funny autobiography is exciting and full of interesting characters,my favorite being Jim McCann the mad IRA man.
The book is also very revealing about how major drug smuggling operations are carried out and how the CIA and other such organisations operate.
Despite being a major drug smuggler Howard is probably the most honest and trustworthy character in the book and he is very likeable.
My only criticism is that the book is so fast paced and involved so many people and deals that I often got confused as to who was who.
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